CHILLICOTHE ♦ A bit surprisingly ahead only 13-0 at halftime, the Class 4 No. 2-ranked Savannah Savages capitalized on a disputed call early in the third quarter with a 54-yards touchdown pass from Zane Wilt to Tyler Wilt to go ahead by three scores and then sealed their seventh-straight victory with a 20-points fourth quarter in the Midland Empire Conference contest.

On the first possession of the second half, a Savannah run attempt from its own 44 was ruled by the line official nearest the play to have been short of the distance for a first down, but the line official from the opposite side subsequently arrived to insist the ball had reached the SHS 45-yard-line and his voice carried the day, sustaining the SHS possession. A review of video footage of the game appeared to show clearly the ball had reached only about midway between the 44 and 45, which would have left it short of the line of gain and given Chillicothe possession at the 45 with a chance to close within one score. Instead, three plays later, the Wilts connected for their bomb and the Hornets, who played very good run defense most of the game, but were scorched on deep passes a half-dozen times, never recovered.

Zane Wilt unofficially threw for 239 yards and two scores, both to his brother, while connecting on nine of 15 throws. Five of his nine completions went for 32 or more yards.

Tyler Wilt caught six balls for 180 yards unofficially, with TD receptions of 10 yards in the second period and the 54-harder in the third.

Corey Coburn racked up 109 yards on 18 carries, 73 of those before halftime.

Z. Wilt was intercepted twice by Chillicothe's Tyler Clampitt, who now has four picks on the season.

Savannah (7-0, 5-0 MEC) has its showdown battle with Maryville on the road next Friday. Chillicothe (1-6, 1-4) has its home finale against Smithville.